Review of Hattie Vavaseur

[AvishaJain_13]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Hattie Vavaseur" by M. Rebecca Wildsmith.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Hattie Vavaseur by M. Rebecca Wildsmith is a neat, simple and yet engaging and thrilling little tale. Set in the 1800s, the story begins with Hattie, an old woman, who while returning from a funeral, realises that she has lost her memory. She finds herself forced to live in a supposed stranger’s house, in a nightmarishly pink room that causes traumatic memories to resurface. She is then forced by the chauffeur to see a ‘medium of the occult’ and thus embarks on the most significant and adventurous journey of her entire existence. Memories are revealed, secrets are unearthed and incomplete relationships are completed as the story progresses. Packed with drama, humour and suspense, this fulfilling and underrated story will most certainly be a worthwhile experience for its readers.

Written exceptionally well, this novel is a complete package of romance, humour, mystery and drama. Suspense and small mysteries can be seen from the very beginning of the novel which is assured to keep the reader interested. The plot is a little confusing and seemingly involves a lot of unimportant details initially, but all the odd loose ends tie up to form a neat little knot at the end. The story has a soap opera-like ambience, which fits perfectly in its victorian murder mystery theme. Wildsmith will have her readers completely in the dark until the last possible seconds with the twists and turns in her book. The ending of the story is heartwarming and does justice to all its characters.

Hattie, the protagonist, seems like a snobbish, uptight and self-centred old lady in the beginning but grows and adjusts remarkably well with the changes in her surroundings. Her emotional walls and need for respect are also explained later in the book as a product of past trauma and betrayal. Her flaws and imperfections make her humane and real and therefore much more relatable. Her friendship with the medium, Vamelda, and her confusing relationship with the master of the house she's forced to live in are portrayed in a beautifully reachable angle. Needless to say, Wildsmith did a wonderful job with writing Hattie's character. I found no negatives in this book.

I give this book 4 out of 4 stars for its complete lack of cons and intricately carved storyline. It is simple, easy to read and era-appropriate. If it was written in the 1800s, it could even be considered ahead of its time. Most of its female characters, including the antagonist, are strong and sensible women who are capable of making their own decisions. This book is also sure to improve the reader's vocabulary.

This book is a cosy murder mystery with a splash of romance and humour which would make it perfect for a good bedtime read. I would not recommend this book to anyone who finds it necessary to stick to visible facts as it does contain a supernatural element that requires an active imagination and an open mind to be able to enjoy it. There were no profanities and no sexual content in this book, and it also seemed extremely well-edited.

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Hattie Vavaseur
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[Akshi Porwal]

The element of subtle psychological torture, like staying in a pink room, really makes me want to read this book. Thank you for the great review.